Supervisors approve police MOU on first reading amid criticism over cost and data on retention

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on April 18 passed on first reading an ordinance to adopt a three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the city and the San Francisco Police Officers Association, despite sharp criticism from at least one supervisor about the contract's size and the analysis behind it.

The roll-call vote was 10-1 in favor; Supervisor Dean Preston cast the lone no vote.

Supervisor Preston said he opposed the MOU because the administration and the Department of Human Resources (DHR) communicated inconsistent cost figures during committee briefings and because the city had not marshaled data showing the package would improve officer retention. "This is not normal and it is not, okay," Preston said on the floor, adding that the city had presented an $84 million total cost figure in public materials before committee but later disclosed a higher number "over $166 million." He said DHR, and later SFPD, had not provided sufficient exit-interview or retention data; the presentation the board received shortly before the vote showed SFPD obtains exit interviews from approximately 28% of departing officers.

DHR and the administration defended the negotiation and said the increases were intended to strengthen recruitment and retention in a competitive regional market. Supporters of the MOU argued that arbitration or failure to approve the…